You would’ve planted spinach, not hydrangeas, if you wanted leafy greens to take over in your backyard. Stop apologizing to the neighbors for your (absent) landscaping (skills). Instead, let me explain how to transform your stubborn bushes into the showstoppers they’re meant to be! 1. Pruning Like a Blindfolded Barber Are your hydrangeas, too, victims…
Dividing perennials is the ultimate “buy one, get four free” coupon for thrifty gardeners. I’ve turned one healthy clump into half a dozen plants more times than I can count. Yet, if you move too early, the poor things will freeze. Move too late, and they sulk like teens forced to attend a family reunion….
Do you ever feel like your pepper yield drops a little every time you prune? Yeah… I dealt with the same thing when I first started growing peppers. What I’ve noticed over the years is that pruning can be really helpful, but only when it’s done at the right time and in the right way! In this…
I’m a sucker for a giant bloom. But back when I was still a gardening n00b, I played a risky game of chicken with a hard freeze, a bag of mulch, and a watering can… and I lost. Ever since, I’ve learned that a little winter prep goes a long way. In my experience, these…
Winter interest is often just a polite way of saying pretty sticks, and self-seeding describes plants that aggressively expand their territory. These terms dictate my late-season strategy: deciding which stalks face the final chop and which are spared for another month. By now, I’ve learned that late winter is where the real decisions happen. So grab…
Huddling by the heater in February is for my Great Aunt, not for us. We have a secret gardening window that would be a shame to miss. This month represents a Goldilocks moment where the ground isn’t a popsicle anymore, but most plants haven’t started their spring sprint. Success in moving certain perennials boils down…